Latest news with #Strasbourg-based
Euractiv
7 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Commission seeks EU court nod for ECHR bid after years of gridlock
Commission moves to break 15-year impasse on EU's accession to Strasbourg-based human rights court Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Nicoletta Ionta Euractiv Jul 25, 2025 20:14 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The European Commission has decided to seek a formal opinion from the EU's top court to clear the path for the bloc's long-overdue accession to the European Court of Human Rights, after years of deadlock. (aw) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Topics
Euractiv
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
European court says Turkey did not provide ‘fair trial' in app use case
The ECHR condemned on Tuesday "the domestic courts' categorical approach to the use of ByLock". "Under that approach, anyone whose use of ByLock was established by the domestic courts could, in principle, be convicted on that sole basis of membership in an armed terrorist organisation," the Strasbourg-based court said. Gulen, a cleric who died in 2024, was once a close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before the two became bitter enemies. He relocated to the United States in 1999 and never returned. Ankara considers ByLock to be the preferred communication tool of those allegedly responsible for the failed coup in 2016, which left 250 people dead and was followed by mass arrests and purges on a scale unprecedented in Turkey's modern history. Authorities have detained more than 25,000 people accused of belonging to the Hizmet movement since then, some 9,000 of whom have been held in custody, according to the Istanbul prosecutor's office. ECHR sees 'a systemic problem' It noted "a systemic problem" affecting a large number of people that must be resolved at the national level. Since the Grand Chamber's 2023 judgment, "the court has already given notice to the respondent government of 5,000 similar applications, and thousands more are still accumulating on its docket," the ECHR added. As of late June, Turkey had 21,050 pending applications to the court – which make up 35% of the total – followed Russia with 8,050 applications (13.4%) and Ukraine with 7,300 (12.1%). (vib)
Euronews
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Fact-checking Antonio Tajani's interpretation of the European flag
A social media post by Antonio Tajani, Italy's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, has sparked debate around the origins and symbolism of the European flag. Writing on X to mark 40 years since its official adoption as the European Union's emblem, Tajani described the flag as 'blue like the cloak of the Madonna, with the 12 stars of the tribes of Israel arranged in a circle". 'A symbol of our values of freedom, of our Judeo-Christian roots,' he added. It has triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with users pointing out that the EU itself describes the flag as standing for 'the values and shared identity of millions of Europeans united in their diversity' and a 'symbol of unity, democracy, and peace". It's not the first time Antonio Tajani has made the claim. Euroverify detected a further two posts on X, in 2013 and 2021, in which he associates the colour blue with the Virgin Mary's mantle and the stars with the 12 tribes of Israel. One historian told Euroverify that Tajani's interpretation is 'essentially incorrect". The search for a 'secular' flag The search for a European flag began in the 1950s when the Council of Europe — the Strasbourg-based human rights organisation which includes 46 member states, and which is not an EU institution — began considering dozens of proposals. Those proposals have been preserved and archived on the Council of Europe's website, which specifies that several designs were rejected because of their religious overtones, such as references to the Virgin Mary. 'These were set aside to keep the flag secular,' the website states. The Council of Europe eventually short-listed two options, one of which was the circle of 12 yellow stars on a blue background, proposed by a member of staff named Arsène Heitz. Heitz's proposal was adopted by the Council of Europe's committee of ministers in 1955. Three decades later, in 1983, the European Parliament decided to adopt the same flag as the symbol of the European Communities, which later became the European Union. That decision was approved by EU leaders in 1985. According to the Council of Europe's website, the number of stars was chosen for its 'symbolism", representing 'harmony and perfection". No official religious connotations Piero Graglia, professor of history of international relations at the University of Milan, told Euroverify that Tajani's interpretation of the flag is 'incorrect'. The number of stars, 12, was chosen because it represents 'perfection' and for its broader symbolic meaning in European culture, he explained, adding that the number carries symbolism in ancient Greek philosophy, mathematics, as well as mythology. 'The Council of Europe, when it adopted the flag, said that the blue is a symbol of the Western sky at sunset, and the twelve stars represent perfection. This is the only acceptable interpretation,' he explained. The European Union's official website describes the circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background as standing for the 'ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe". There is no reference to religious symbolism. Yet, despite the Council of Europe saying it had discarded flag proposals because of their religious overtones in the 1950s, the institution does make an implicit reference to religious analogies in its description of the flag on its website. It describes the number of stars, 12, as recalling 'the apostles, the sons of Jacob, the labours of Hercules, and the months of the year". The sons of Jacob, who was the third of the three patriarchs of the Jewish people, are also known as the twelve tribes of Israel, which Tajani refers to in his statement on X. Designer Heitz cited religious inspiration While the flag itself is considered secular, its designer, Arsène Heitz, did cite religious inspiration. According to Professor Graglia, it is known that a statue of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral of Strasbourg, where Heitz lived and worked, inspired his design. It bears a clear resemblance to the flag. A 2004 article in the Economist also attributes a statement to Heitz in which he said he was inspired by a biblical verse from the Apocalypse of John, which refers to a "woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars".
Euractiv
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Europe's top rights court finds Russia responsible for rights abuses in Ukraine
The European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously on Wednesday that Russia was responsible for the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 and also that Moscow had repeatedly and systematically violated human rights in Ukraine. The Strasbourg-based court said Russia had performed indiscriminate military attacks, summary executions of civilians, torture including the use of rape as a weapon of war, unjustified displacement and transfer of civilians and other violations. Ahead of Wednesday's ruling, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not abide by any court decisions, saying: "We consider them null and void." The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is an international court of the Council of Europe – also based in Strasbourg – from which Russia was expelled in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's parliament then voted in 2023 to end the ECHR's jurisdiction in the country. "Taken as a whole, the vast volume of evidence before the Court presented a picture of interconnected practices of manifestly unlawful conduct by agents of the Russian State (Russian armed forces and other authorities, occupying administrations, and separatist armed groups and entities) on a massive scale across Ukraine," the ECHR said in its ruling. The ruling concerned four consolidated cases, one of which involved Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which departed Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur in July 2014 and was shot down over eastern Ukraine amid fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board the plane died. Moscow denies any responsibility for MH17's downing, and in 2014 denied any presence in Ukraine. 'Suffering and grief' The ECHR ruled that Russia had failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the incident, to cooperate with requests for information or provide legal remedies for survivors. Its lack of cooperation and continued denial of any involvement has caused additional suffering for the victims' relatives, the court said. "Nothing can take away this suffering and grief, but I hope the verdict offers a sense of justice and recognition," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in response to the ruling. A majority of those on the airliner were Dutch. The other three cases covered by Wednesday's ruling were brought by Ukraine – over pro-Russian separatists accused of abducting groups of Ukrainian children and transferring them to Russia, and over alleged patterns of human rights violations during Russia's war in Ukraine. Ukraine's Justice Ministry hailed the ECHR ruling as "one of the most important in the practice of interstate cases" in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. The ECHR is expected to rule in due course on possible damages and compensation, but it has no way of enforcing its rulings, especially on a country that no longer recognises its jurisdiction, meaning Wednesday's verdict is mainly symbolic. (vib)
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Europe's top rights court finds Russia responsible for downing of MH17, rights abuses in Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic forces walk past a memorial to victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane crash, that was shot down over rebel-held territory in 2014, on the anniversary of the incident, outside the village of Hrabove in Donetsk region, Ukraine July 17, 2020. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo PARIS - Europe's top human rights court ruled unanimously on Wednesday that Russia was responsible for the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 and also that Moscow had repeatedly and systematically violated human rights in Ukraine. The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights said Russia had performed indiscriminate military attacks, summary executions of civilians, torture including the use of rape as a weapon of war, unjustified displacement and transfer of civilians and other violations. Ahead of Wednesday's ruling, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not abide by any court decisions, saying: "We consider them null and void." The ECHR is an international court of the Council of Europe, also based in Strasbourg, from which Russia was expelled in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's parliament then voted in 2023 to end the ECHR's jurisdiction in the country. In its ruling, the ECHR said: "Taken as a whole, the vast volume of evidence before the Court presented a picture of interconnected practices of manifestly unlawful conduct by agents of the Russian State (Russian armed forces and other authorities, occupying administrations, and separatist armed groups and entities) on a massive scale across Ukraine." The ruling concerned four consolidated cases, one of which involved Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which departed Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur in July 2014 and was shot down over eastern Ukraine amid fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board the plane died. Moscow denies any responsibility for MH17's downing and in 2014 denied any presence in Ukraine. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore COE prices rise for all categories Singapore Tough questions lie ahead as Singapore accelerates push for driverless vehicles Singapore Man who killed cats by throwing them off HDB blocks has jail term doubled to 27 months Singapore $43k fine for undischarged bankrupt doctor who failed to disclose assets worth over $4m Singapore Female primary school teacher charged over alleged sex acts with underage male student Singapore S'pore's open trade system, trusted regulatory framework a draw for chemicals sector: Tan See Leng Singapore People working in air-conditioned spaces prefer 24 deg C and warmer: Survey 'SUFFERING AND GRIEF' The ECHR ruled that Russia had failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the incident, to cooperate with requests for information or provide legal remedies for survivors. Its lack of cooperation and continued denial of any involvement has caused additional suffering for the victims' relatives, the court said. Responding to the ruling, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said: "Nothing can take away this suffering and grief, but I hope the verdict offers a sense of justice and recognition." A majority of those on the airliner were Dutch. The other three cases covered by Wednesday's ruling were brought by Ukraine, over pro-Russian separatists accused of abducting groups of Ukrainian children and transferring them to Russia, and over alleged patterns of human rights violations during Russia's war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. Ukraine's Justice Ministry, in a statement on the Telegram messaging app, hailed the ECHR ruling as "one of the most important in the practice of interstate cases". The court is expected to rule in due course on possible damages and compensation but it has no way of enforcing its rulings, especially on a country that no longer recognises its jurisdiction, meaning Wednesday's verdict is mainly symbolic. REUTERS
